Lok Sabha Speaker Election: Know why 7 MPs including Shashi Tharoor and Shatrughan Sinha might not be able to vote

For the first time in Lok Sabha history, an election for the Speaker's post will take place on Wednesday due to the inability of the BJP's ruling NDA government and the Congress-led INDIA opposition to reach to a consensus.

Traditionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker were elected through consensus between the ruling party and the Opposition. The contest will witness the BJP's Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota in Rajasthan, up against the Congress' Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Kerala's Mavelikara.

The Lok Sabha Speaker's election today, which is already tilted in favour of the government, has the potential to further weaken the Opposition because five of its 232 MPs have not yet taken the oath of office.

Stalwarts such as Shashi Tharoor of the Congress and actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha of the Trinamool Congress are on the list.

Afzhal Ansari of the Samajwadi Party, Deepak Adhikari and Nurul Islam of the Trinamool Congress, and two Independents are among the others. Why some of these leaders' oaths are still pending is unknown.
 
The older brother of Mukhtar Ansari, a former criminal who is now a politician, is Afzhal Ansari. The Allahabad High Court postponed his four-year prison sentence in light of the upcoming election.

When the court reopens in July, the matter will be heard. He will not be allowed to continue serving in parliament if the court upholds his sentence.

The number of MPs present and voting determines the winner of the Speaker election; hence, the absence of these seven MPs will reduce the overall number and, consequently, the midway point.

Even though the opposition gained 232 seats, it will only have 227 if the remaining MPs show up to vote. This is because the opposition will be missing five MPs. The number 269 will represent the majority.

Along with Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal, the four MPs of YS Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress are expected to support the NDA, which now has 293 MPs. Both parties have supported the government on the basis of issues.

The NDA, which commands 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, holds a clear majority, while the opposition INDIA bloc comprises 234 MPs.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 and will conclude on July 3 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members.

The 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3. This is the first Lok Sabha session post-general elections in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) bagged 293 seats while the INDIA bloc secured 234 seats.

The BJP, however, failed to reach a majority mandate bagging merely 240 seats. 

(With inputs from ANI)